For nearly a decade, San Francisco’s lesbian nightlife scene flatlined. Rising rents, disappearing venues, and a nightlife culture dominated by cis gay men made it nearly impossible to keep women-centered spaces alive. One by one, the bars shuttered, gentrification spread like wildfire, and true to stereotype, the girls packed up their U-Hauls and moved to Oakland.

But recently? Something’s shifting. New bars are opening, old ones are roaring back to life, and longtime queer spots are holding space — loudly and proudly — for studs, femmes, and everyone across the WLW spectrum.

Bars, clubs, and dance floors are turning back on our energy, lighting us up again, and making space for us to dance, flirt, and actually see each other. The lesbian scene isn’t on life support — it’s headlining its own revival.

It’s not just the vibes, it’s the numbers. According to Lyft data, rides from Oakland-based riders to SF’s lesbian bars have more than doubled over the past two years — while rides to other bars have seen a modest 20% increase. Turns out, the sapphics are showing up and making the switch for the city.

Tucked into a bright purple building on 16th Street, Mother isn’t just a bar — it’s a “dyke-of-center” haven where all queers are welcome. The front door says it all: “Protect our spaces” painted in bright orange, like both a promise and a warning. Inside, it’s intimate and vibey — matching purple walls, glowing pink and lavender lights, and a long, narrow layout that draws your eyes to the projector in the back, where a spotted hyena lurks beneath a giant disco ball, practically daring you to dance. The bar itself feels like an ornate 1920s theater arch — except instead of old Hollywood, it’s serving your queer cousin’s dream cocktails: The Crush, The Ex, The Situationship. Drinks are tasty, reasonably priced, and yep — cash only, so come prepared.

And don’t let the June gloom fool you; Mother shines in the summer. In 2024, rides in June more than doubled, while July was up 50% compared with the rest of the year.

Jolene’s is where you go when you want to be a hot mess in the safest way possible. Known for its unapologetically queer energy and the infamous “boob room” dance floor, this isn’t just a bar — it’s a whole mood. It’s home to UHaul, the iconic weekly party for girls who love girls (and their exes and their exes’ exes). But that’s just the start. Jolene’s also hosts Beso, a queer Latine dance party, alongside Coyote Ugly nights where bar-top babes leave no dollar unclaimed. Add in queer pool tournaments, emo night karaoke, and — yes — Labubu parties, and you’ve got a rotating roster of WLW chaos in the best possible way.

Straddling the Mission and Bernal Heights, El Rio has been a cornerstone of SF’s queer nightlife for over 45 years — and its backyard alone deserves legendary status. The multi-level outdoor space glows under string lights, with heat lamps, trans and pride flags, and colorful vinyl strips framing a dance floor where no inch goes to waste.

It’s a space rooted in the BIPOC and Latine community, pulsing with energy from an ever-rotating lineup of DJs and pop-ups — from Salsa Sundays to R&B and Ribs to Hella Goth, Hella Gay. And of course, there’s Mango — the long-running “day party for women and their friends” held every last Saturday of the month. It’s sweaty, sexy, and ideal for the 30s-plus crowd who still want to flirt and move but also get home in time to make dinner and catch up on some trash TV.

Need proof? Take a look at the Lyft rides to El Rio over the past couple of years, and you’ll see a signature spike every fourth Saturday — all due to Mango.

After months (and months) of anticipation, Rikki’s finally opened its doors on June 11 — and it’s already redefining what a queer space can be. Billed as San Francisco’s first women’s sports bar, this Market Street newcomer is a love letter to women athletes and the community that rides hard for them. Expect over a dozen TVs, walls decked in women’s sports decor, and framed photos that pay homage to the athletes, teams, and history that got us here — past and present. The bar’s name itself is a nod to Rikki Streicher, the legendary lesbian bar owner, whose legacy championing women’s sports and community spaces continues to inspire.

Rikki’s is offering a long-overdue alternative: a space where the drinks are flowing, the game’s always on, and women’s sports take center screen.

Of course, the revival isn’t limited to bars that market themselves just to queer women. It’s showing up in wine bars, club nights, and long-standing queer venues that are widening the welcome — making intentional space for lesbians, femmes, masc cuties, and the full spectrum of the sapphic community.

Take Scarlet Fox, a cozy new wine bar in NoPa that’s lesbian-owned and proudly pours wines from queer women–owned labels. Or LesBEAUX, the cheekily named monthly party for queer women and all who love them. Hosted inside Beaux — a velvet-rope, bottle-service kind of Castro club — LesBEAUX is a newer addition to the scene but has quickly become a go-to club night, with big club energy, iconic DJ sets from folks like DJ Livv, and burlesque royalty like Frankie Fictitious.

QBar has returned to the Castro with a vengeance after its devastating 2019 fire, and VICE Tuesdays are back in full force — delivering a midweek sweat session that feels both familiar and fiercely refreshed. Meanwhile, over in FiDi, longtime gay bar Ginger’s is getting new life under an all-women management team, with event collaborators bringing girl parties, trans nights, and queer women–centered events already drawing crowds downtown.

And then there’s Moby Dyke Nights — yes, you read that right — every last Thursday at Moby Dick. For decades, this bar was notoriously male-centric. The fact that it’s now regularly hosting a night all about the ladies? That’s not just progress. That’s a shift. And it speaks volumes about how SF’s queer community is redefining who nightlife is for — and who gets to enjoy it. This revival is a communal effort. It’s happening across neighborhoods, across nights of the week, and across every pocket of the city. And in true queer fashion — if you know, you know. But if you don’t? Bless the sapphic saints behind @lezpartysf, who — dare we say — are doing the Sisters’ work. With weekly roundups of where to go and what crowd to expect, they’re making it easier than ever to say yes to the night.

It’s all a reminder that this isn’t just a comeback — it’s a glow-up into something even better. This time, it’s deeper, more inclusive, and built to last.

We’re helping you ride to your favorite sapphic events this SF Pride.

Use code LEZRIDE25 to get 50% off (up to $10) on one ride, valid for the first 1,500 users. The offer runs from 6/26/25 at 4:00 p.m. to 6/30/25 at 4:00 a.m. PT and applies to rides to or from these queer women–centered venues and events all weekend long.

Alexis Hazelwood (she/they) is a Creative Lead for Rev, Lyft’s in-house editorial team, and a proud San Francisco resident. You can find her at Mother on weekends.